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~ World Class Working German Shepherds from the Mission Valley ~ |
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~ Mambo z Pohranicni straze offspring ~ |
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Above photo of "E" litter of Sapphire Mountain: Mambo x Rhea of
Sapphire Mountain, DOB: 6/22/08. |
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ENZO of Sapphire Mountain, male. |
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Email received 11/03/08; My experience with Sapphire Shepherds and Ramona Helmer was a truly amazing "Once in a lifetime find." For a good dog you need to have good blood and genetics. Ramona's dogs have these superior qualities. I was very much impressed by the calm disposition of her dogs, at the same time, displaying tremendous drive. I flew to Montana and spent two days with Ramona and carefully chose my own dog, Enzo. Ramona is honest and caring, truly reliable. Knowing a head of time Ramona had already narrowed it down to two dogs she thought I would pick. Enzo was one of the two. Being in law enforcement has given me insight about people. Within that brief period of being in Montana, I found Ramona to be trustworthy and offering a comfortable environment during my stay. I am looking forward to our continued friendship and support. If you are looking for a true working dog, Sapphire Shepherds is the answer. Sincerely, Michael Barkman |
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EMBER of Sapphire Mountain: female
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Email received:11-12-07: Dear Ramona,
Thank you for the update. I've been in the dog training business for
30 years and not too many breeders have the integrity that you have and this
does not only reflect to dogs. I don't know you personally, but I know
that you are a good person by the small amount of correspondence that we
have had. Hope that we can meet at some time. In the meantime,
please keep me advised. Regards, Donald Burke |
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View working photos of Griet: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 |
Griet of Sapphire Mountain: female At only 9 months of age, Griet was already performing advanced Guide work. Programmed trained dogs usually do not start formal training until 1 1/2 years of age. This tells you much about Griet's genetics and the handling skills of her owner Khanh.
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Email receive from Mary, a observer of Griet's guide
work: .... I also wanted to take this opportunity to tell you what an
amazing dog guide Griet is becoming. Although of course I haven't met any of
your other dogs, I have perused your website and your dogs obviously have a
great mix of good conformation, good genetics, and intelligence. Griet is a
testament to your breeding program. She is very intelligent, beautiful,
healthy, and for the most part unflappable. When she is working, she is very
focused on her work and I swear sometimes I can almost see her
thinking...analyzing how to handle a particular obstacle or situation. She
is flawless on the sidewalks and needs a little bit of work on the
crosswalks to learn how to go straight. Right now she occasionally veers
either towards the cars parked at the stoplight or toward the moving traffic
but she always keeps Khanh safe and she is very analytical. We have one
crosswalk last weekend where there was construction on each curb of the
crosswalk. Griet works her way |
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ELO of Sapphire Mountain: call name ROCCO, male |
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Email received 12/2/08; Ramona, I wanted to let you know that I created a blog where I post photos and videos of Rocco's training sessions with Kevin. He is an incredible dog - his focus still amazes us and his play drive is outstanding! I have also attached two photos that I was able to snap when he was still for the a brief second - usually when Rocco is outside, Rocco is running ;-) Marci Email received 8-02-09: Rocco has been doing very well this summer, his SAR training is coming along nicely. We had a disaster training session this past week, where we have access to the state's K9 urban training center. Rocco took to the rubble piles with no problems - including a huge pile of pallets (15ft high, spread out over several hundred feet) which made footing very shaky and made some of the more experienced dogs hesitate. He has such solid nerves, not much bothers him. His smaller size certainly helps, and he is now really starting to think while in drive. Next time we go there, I'll send you a video - he is fun to watch working. Kevin |
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ERIK of Sapphire Mountain: male |
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Email received 11/29/08; .....after he'd been here for about 2 weeks, I reread the blurb you wrote about him on your web site and he is exactly as you described. It's obvious you really get to know your puppies.
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Email received 11/05/08; Erik arrived safely and then took over my house. I thought I was prepared but apparently I didn't have enough stimulation for him so he started looking for it. :-) I gave him a long swatch of packing paper which he shredded, then he went hiking with the broom :-)) He spilled some water and when I went to wipe it up he grabbed the rag, :-))) so I got a different rag and he grabbed that one too. :-)))) I did some minor tug work with him and he will grab any part of the tug and me as well. :-)))) So he's a keeper. I think we'll get along fine. He's different from my dogs. My dogs are fake German Shepherds. They welcome all visitors and can't be bothered barking at passers-by even at the mature age of 3. I can see that Erik is going to watch. He is very alert to motion and runs to his "target" with complete confidence. I think I will keep socializing him with lots of people so he isn't too sharp when he gets older, but I like what I see. He already has a big-dog bark. He gets along with my old pit bull, Blondie (aka High Five Concrete Blonde SchH 1, CDX), who is the world's greatest puppy uncle, so that keeps him from feeling lonesome away from his old home. He's adjusting well. More later, K. Email received /25/08 Hi Ramona Just wanted to update you on Erik's progress. He is now 7 months old and I continue to be amazed. With minimal work, all of it positive, his heeling is quite stunning. It takes very little to keep his attention, even in the presence of other dogs. I work him strictly in a flat collar, no prong and so far I don't think I'll need one. He does show-stopping bite work, very aggressive and hard. We don't work him with other puppies because he is so demanding that he barks himself into exhaustion. He HAS to be the center of attention. The socializing we've done (outdoor bar, rock music, drunk tourists on Tuesday nights) has him pretty well immune to anything the free-range human race can throw at him. He takes it all in stride. We have a weekend
training camp coming up with a photographer, so hopefully I can get some
good pictures for your web site. Thanks again for this great little guy.
Kate
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GIA of Sapphire Mountain: female |
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Email received:8-31-09:
Ramona, Thought you might be interested in
seeing a new video of Gia. Here's the link:
Will be sending you some photos of Gia soon.
Jeff Washburn
Email received:4-609: Ramona, Here’s a link to a video of Gia doing some protection work last Saturday night. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6z24B0DHCI&feature=channel_page She is doing well with both protection and tracking, although both are in the early stages at this point. Her ball and food drives are great. Should not be too much of a problem to start her on reward based obedience in a couple of months after her first heat cycle. Best regards. Jeff Washburn
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Email received:1-9-09:
Ramona, Our little girl Gia arrived on time and in great shape other
than being hungry, thirsty and exhausted from the flight. Her health records
were intact on the crate. She had a very vocal night, but we all survived
fine and she was rip-roaring to go this morning. She and our 11 month old
GSD are socializing well and she is determined to let him know that she is
the boss. Email received:1-19-09: Hello Ramona, Thought you might like to see a picture of Gia at her new home. She has settled in well and is certainly a pretty and active little lady. She's been traveling with me to Schutzhund training and has got to bite on a burlap tug that we use to build prey drive, which she certainly has plenty of. The tug she is holding is one that I use to build prey drive and to teach targeting. She has already learned that a bark will get her a bite and a chance to play with the tug. We have introduced her to scent pads and short tracks. She appears that she will have good intensity to track as well. She responds well to reward based training methods inclusive of verbal praise and ball or tug play.
We're well
pleased with our little girl and believe she is going to be easy to train
and will someday be a shining star at Schutzhund trials as well as a
proficient search dog.
Will keep you posted as her training progresses. Best Regards, Jeff Washburn Email received: 6-13-09: Ramona, I had Gia's hips x-rayed this past week by my vet. She said that Gia's hips were looked excellent with good well-formed deep sockets. I reviewed the x-rays with the vet and was very well pleased with the formation of the hip sockets. Gia is doing outstanding with her schutzhund work and has a tremendous bark. Still a satisfied customer and hope to get some of my money back from you sometime in the near future through your new cash back incentive program for titles and certifications maybe even that $2500 for world competition.
Thanks again, Jeff Washburn
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Gjetta of Sapphire Mountain: female |
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Email received: 1-02-09. ...She's learning quick, and has a little bit 'harder' personality than we first thought. She loves to help sweep up... attacks the broom. Shoveling the walks she attacks the shovel. And thinks its great fun to attack the car wash brush also. |
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HELGA of Sapphire Mountain: female (call
name Lexi) |
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Email received: 12/31/09. Ramona, Just thought you might
like for your records that Lexi/Helga was clear on her Degenerative
Myelopathy DNA Test. I have to go back east for a couple weeks and she will
be staying with my folks down in Utah. When I get back am planning on having
her hips and elbows x-rayed but I do not foresee any problems or issues. She
impresses everyone everywhere we go and is great with kids and other dogs
and most farm animals. Still is a little leery of the cattle, but getting
better. Hope you had a great Christmas and have a Healthy and Happy New
Year. |
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Izabella of Sapphire Mountain; female Parents: Mambo x Ajsa Owner: Mr. Hank WA | |
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Email received: 10/14/09. Dear Ramona, just a short message to say hello, and thank you for reg. papers on Bella. You have been first class in this transaction. Bella is a real pleasure to have. I have never seen a dog that gives you the full attention that she does. No matter where you're at or what you're doing she always has you in her focus in case you would ask her to do something. I have had other dogs do this but only if other distractions weren't going on around them. Her obedience training is going great, the vets love her. She is 6 months old now and weighs 60 lbs. and no fat. Her prey drives are excellent she actually forced me to start bite training months before I would have. I knew if I didn't she would be a hand full, she releases on command , but she definitely keeps you accountable to obedience training. I purchased a male pup from Jinopo, that should be here in a week or so. He is out of Carly X Wren. Wren is a daughter of Lary Bret Brett, I didn't know at the time you owned him. I was glad to hear that. Well I better go for now, just wanted to thank you. I will send you some pictures before long . Best regards, Hank |
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HOVAN of Sapphire Mountain: male |
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HANNA of Sapphire Mountain: female |
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Email received: 1-15-09.
Hello! I am received Hanna and she is ok. She is beautiful, strong and with good drive. Have solid nerves. My dog trainer evaluate and he like too much. If you have one male really good please sent to me info.
Thanks
Manuel Varela
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Photo coming soon |
HOLLY of Sapphire Mountain: female |
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ECHO of Sapphire Mountain: male |
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ELSA of
Sapphire Mountain, Mambo x Rhea |
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EMA of Sapphire Mountain: female |
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ELKA of Sapphire Mountain: |
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Email received 9/5/08 Hi Ramona, I check your web page daily to see if Asja has whelped yet. Have not checked yet today and will after this short note. ELKA is growing leaps and bounds. Apparently doing well on my TLC. She and Chad are best buddies now. She is retrieving perfectly, she returns the objects I throw, to me and releases them into my hand. She has never "Messed" on the deck, and goes off the deck to do her business. But, the deck is covered with her treasures, she has collected a zillion old dog bones, and each day I toss most of them away but, she always seems to find more. She knows "Sit" and comes to me and sits nicely in front. I will work on more as she grows. She goes with me when I am out in the woods gathering bags of kindling, and stays with me, as Chad goes out scent marking around us. I am very pleased with her eagerness to do whatever I ask her to do. (She even knows what "Don't bite" means now, so my hands are not so bloody) She outgrew her collar about a week ago, so wears a new one, with more holes to let out as she grows. She proudly helps me in the kindling gathering by finding the biggest branch she can find and happily dragging it along all the way back home. :-P Just thought I would say "Howdy" and give you a ELKA update. Pat |
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"E" Litter at 4 weeks.
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